Note: This is an archival copy of Security Sun Alert 266908 as previously published on http://sunsolve.sun.com.
Latest version of this security advisory is available from http://support.oracle.com
as Sun Alert 1020896.1.

Security vulnerability in Solaris Pidgin (see pidgin(1)), Versions Prior to 2.5.9 may Lead to Execution of Arbitrary Code or a Denial of Service (DoS) Condition

CategorySecurity

Release PhaseResolved

Bug Id
6875021

ProductSolaris 10 Operating System
OpenSolaris

Date of Workaround Release14-Sep-2009

Date of Resolved Release15-Dec-2009

A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in the MSN protocol handler of libpurple(3):

1. Impact

A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in the MSN protocol handler
of libpurple(3), the shared library that adds support for various instant messaging networks to the pidgin(1) Instant Messaging client
(previously known as Gaim), may allow remote unprivileged users to execute arbitrary code or cause a Denial of Service (DoS) through an
application crash.

Additional information on this issue can be found in the following
document:

Note 1: Solaris 8 and Solaris 9
do not ship Pidgin and therefore are not affected by this issue.

Note
2: This issue only affects systems that have the Pidgin IM
client installed. All versions of Pidgin, up to and including versions 2.5.8 are affected by this issue.

To determine if Pidgin is installed on the system and to check
the version of Pidgin installed, the following command may be used:

$ /usr/bin/pidgin -v || echo "Pidgin IM client not installed"

Note 3: OpenSolaris builds
prior to snv_68, and Solaris 10 without patches 119548-11 (for SPARC)
or 119549-11 (for x86) include the Gaim Instant Messaging client and not Pidgin. Gaim versions 0.79 and
later are affected by this issue. The Workaround given in section 4 below applies to Gaim as well.

To determine if Gaim is installed on the system and to check the
version of Gaim installed, the following command may be used:

$ /usr/bin/gaim -v || echo "Gaim IM client not installed"

Note 4: OpenSolaris
distributions may include additional bug fixes above and beyond the
build from which it was derived. To determine the base build of
OpenSolaris, the following command can
be used:

$ uname -v snv_86

3. Symptoms

If the described issue has been exploited to cause a Denial of Service
(DoS), Pidgin will crash, potentially leaving a core file depending on
the system configuration.

There are no predictable symptoms that would indicate that this issue
has been exploited to execute arbitrary code.

4. Workaround

To mitigate the impact of the described issue, the privacy settings of
MSN accounts in Pidgin may be changed as follows:

Open Pidgin's Buddy List window

Click on Tools -> Privacy

For MSN accounts, choose either the "Allow only the users on my buddy
list" or the "Allow only the users below" option.5. Resolution

This issue is addressed in the following releases:

SPARC Platform

Solaris 10 with patch 119548-14 or later

OpenSolaris based upon builds snv_124 or later

x86 Platform

Solaris 10 with patch 119549-14 or later

OpenSolaris based upon builds snv_124 or later

For
more informationon Security Sun Alerts, see 1009886.1.

This Sun Alert
notification is being provided
to you on
an "AS IS"
basis. This Sun Alert notification may contain information provided by
third parties. The issues described in this Sun Alert notification may
or may not impact your system(s). Sun makes no representations,
warranties, or guarantees as to the information contained herein. ANY
AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR
NON-INFRINGEMENT, ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED. BY ACCESSING THIS DOCUMENT YOU
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SUN SHALL IN NO EVENT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT,
INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES THAT ARISE OUT
OF YOUR USE OR FAILURE TO USE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. This
Sun Alert notification contains Sun proprietary and confidential
information. It is being provided to you pursuant to the provisions of
your agreement to purchase services from Sun, or, if you do not have
such an agreement, the Sun.com Terms of Use. This Sun Alert
notification may only be used for the purposes contemplated by these
agreements.
Copyright 2000-2009 Sun Microsystems, Inc., 4150 Network Circle,
Santa
Clara, CA 95054 U.S.A. All rights reserved.